My daughter Luciana is a preschool student in the CSS special needs programs within Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville, FL. She is a wonderful, bright little girl who deserves a school photo that reflects who she truly is.

This year, the official portrait Lifetouch chose as her final image shows her with her hand covering her face / in her nose. It was approved, watermarked, and sent to us to purchase.

This is not about a child not smiling. Young children, especially children with special needs, may not always smile and that is completely understandable. My concern is that a professional photography company would select a photo where a child's hand is covering her face and deem it acceptable as a final yearbook portrait.

Lifetouch should have handled this better. If they had other images and believed this was the best one, they could have reached out to me or let me see the options. This photo is going to be in the yearbook. I was bullied as a child, and I would hate for my special-needs daughter, who is nonverbal and cannot speak up for herself — to be bullied because her yearbook photo looks like she is picking her nose.

What makes this more frustrating is that last year Lifetouch did a wonderful job. She was calm, looking at the camera, and we got a beautiful photo. The difference this year is shocking. This year, her teacher was told NOT to assist her during picture day and to just try to push her hands down quickly and take a fast photo. Last year her support team was allowed to help her, and she got a great picture. That is not right.

I have shared my full story here on Tiktok:

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8T8WYHH/​

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8T8ntmc/

IMPORTANT: This is in no way the fault of her school. This has nothing to do with the school itself, its administration, teachers, or staff. Everyone at her school has been kind, supportive, and understanding, and they do everything they can for my daughter. My issue is solely with Lifetouch and the district-level contract.

I have contacted Lifetouch through their feedback form and requested complimentary replacement photos. Since sharing my story, other parents, staff, and students have shared their own bad experiences with Lifetouch as well — rushed photos, pictures of kids crying or looking away being selected as finals, no real retakes, and a lack of communication. This isn't just about children with special needs, it's about all kids, parents, and staff.

This is bigger than one photo. School pictures are memories families keep forever. Every child deserves to feel seen and respected.

WE ARE ASKING DUVAL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO:

1. End its current contract with Lifetouch

2. Switch to a different company with inclusive practices

3. Require specialized training and photographers for special needs students so this doesn't happen to anyone else — photographers who understand sensory needs, allow extra time, and know how to patiently support children

4. Allow teachers, aides, and paraprofessionals to support students during photos

5. Require that if no dignified photo is captured, parents are contacted with options instead of finalizing an undignified photo for the yearbook

If you have had a bad experience with Lifetouch — whether your child has special needs or not — please sign and share your story. Our kids deserve better.